1. Africa is a war's continent
False. With 68 current conflicts listed in the world in February 2011, only 27 are in Africa, against 36 in Asia.
Conflict is defined on a scale of intensity, "unstable peace" to "high intensity" conflict. The highest levels are mostly in Asia: there are now four and only one in Africa (Somalia). Ditto for conflicts of medium intensity (8 in total), only two are in Africa, against six in other continents, Asia (Philippines), Middle East (Palestine) but also in Russia (Chechnya) or even Mexico. Territorial disputes between two or more parties are about 42 in Africa, against 68 in Asia. The war is not specific to Africa and has no particular colour, except the blood one the same for everyone.
2. African migrants invade Europe
False. Approximately 214 million migrants worldwide who live outside their country of birth, there are only 15 million sub-Saharan Africans living outside the continent, example only one African out of 30 chose to live in France.
Globally, only two out of five migrants settled in the OECD countries, while others go to the Third World countries, Asia or the Gulf.
For the African continent, migration is often South-South and not South-North. Following the example of recent conflict to date: 20,000 Libyans if landed on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, thrilling a Europe of 700 million, the same number of Libyans is currently in the refugee camp of Shusha, Tunisia , a country of 10 million. To this, add another 50,000 Libyans living in this small country of jasmine, and 350,000 sub-Saharan Africa.
In fact, in Africa, conflicts or economic problems are often generate more lateral. Thousands of Libyans are refugees in Egypt or Algeria. The Sudanese people from Darfur are in Chad, the Rwandan refugees are in the neighboring countries and in Tamanrasset, a town in southern Algeria, there are 20 African nationalities who are living together, representing 40% of the population of the city. Senegal and the Ivory Coast have more African immigrants than in France, which itself receives less African than Belgium for example.
3. Africa is overpopulated
False. This is not the most populous continent. It is much less than Asia, with its 3.9 billion people, so crowded that the American continent (900 million) and slightly more than Europe, with its 922 million people estimated 2005.
For the African population is spread over an area of 30 million square kilometers, three times more than Europe. There is room in Africa, even for the "white" in crisis. Africa is also the third destination for French expatriates, after the United States and the Middle East. A fun calculation is that there would be more "white" in Africa that Africans in Europe. Indeed, Europeans are numerous in Senegal, Ivory Coast or Gabon: they are 170,000, divided between French-speaking Africa (120,000), North Africa (50,000) and non-Francophone Africa (10,000). But what the police?
4. Africa is plagued by a persistent underdevelopment
False. Outside the Maghreb and South Africa, known for creating steady growth, many African countries achieve good economic results and the "African lions" champions of double-digit growth as Ghana and Ethiopia are examples of success. Africa attracts foreign investment, to the extent that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts an inflow of capital for the year 2011 and next year.
Of course, among the 10 most corrupt countries in the world there are four African countries, but there are five Asian and American countries (Haiti). However, on all continents, Africa is at the same level of corruption as in Central America, South America and Asia.
Economically, Africa has recorded its strongest growth over the past two decades, with a growth rate of gross domestic product of about 5% per year, to the point that Africa has become, since 2009, the first trading partner of China, which is investing heavily.
This growth continues in a continuous manner: the African Development Bank expects 3.7% for 2011 as global growth expected by the IMF for the same year is around 4%, divided between 2.5 % and 3% for the United States, around 1.5% for Europe (Greek forecasts before the crisis), with a small 1.3% for France. There is no picture, even in black and white.
